Bernie Ecclestone questions Toto Wolff’s Mercedes future after Abu Dhabi drama

12/29/2021

Bernie Ecclestone has questioned Toto Wolff's position at Mercedes after Max Verstappen dramatically beat Lewis Hamilton to the F1 drivers' title.

Wolff, current team ptrincipal and CEO of the 'Silver Arrows', joined the team in 2013 and has since overseen an unprecedented era of success.

After Sebastian Vettel took the last of his four consecutive titles with Red Bull that year, Mercedes proceeded to win seven consecutive drivers' titles, six via Hamilton with the one exception coming when Nico Rosberg prevailed in 2016.

They also took the Constructors' crown in each of those seasons but while they made it eight in a row on that front in 2021, Verstappen's controversial title win represented a hammer blow to the Austrian and his colleagues.

Wolff, 49, was left incensed by the manner of the finish at the Yas Marina, and following the race Mercedes launched two protests regarding the safety car procedure that was inadvertently sped up by race director Michael Masi in the closing laps.

When that failed, the team immediately served notice of intent to appeal, but four days later released a statement confirming they would not be pursuing that line of action.

However, during a virtual press conference Wolff made his feelings on the matter clear, saying he and Hamilton both felt "disillusioned" by the outcome whilst confirming the pair were boycotting the annual FIA prize-giving gala in Paris.

And now Ecclestone, the former chief executive of F1, has cast doubt on Wolff's future with the British-based team.

"I don't know whether Toto Wolff, with a third of the team shares, is still in the same strong position as before," the 91-year-old told Swiss outlet Blick .

"But we will find out at some point."

Ecclestone, 91, has never been shy on speaking out about the sport, and after revealing he had conversed on the phone with Anthony Hamilton, made a bold prediction on the future of his son, seven-time world champion Lewis.

"I immediately felt that he wouldn't answer a question about his son's future. So we only talked about business," he continued.

"I don't think he's coming back. His disappointment is too big. And you can somehow understand it.

"Now it would be time to tackle his dream of becoming a fashion entrepreneur with seven world titles like Michael Schumacher."

Source: Read Full Article